hi folks! yuppers... i tried to keep the '02 going as long as I could without going crazy... but she's gotta go. Too bad, newish clutch, brakes, suspension... the inline coolant heater - belly plate... side marker delete, 4motion valence - have a goofy tuner that make a ton of smoke too (not on the car now) but couldn't get it to run - no idea why... ANYWAY... looking at a '13 A3 or a '15 Sportwagen... about the same amount of miles and wondering if you all have any thoughts. I lean to the Golf for the extra space for the BODL (big old dumb lab) but the A3 looks like a gas ...err... diesel? thanks for the feedback... (come get the wagon - 1.5K)

Some of us get a little nostalgic. I would never say to anyone hey it was just a dog. Run your Passat for 16 years and see if you change your mind. Hell I just saw a Chevy citation at a car show last month and it made me feel warm and fuzzy.

My dog and my car are two totally different entities. The dog is a loyal companion and a sentient being. the car is just inert metal. Memory lane or not living breathing beings are not the same as a man-made metal product. I really hate it when many express the "love" for a car. Do they really know what love is? Love will always respond back to you, a car cannot no matter how fond you were about an inert possession. The car serves a purpose if it served you well it was a good car. Nuff said.

Not sure if any of you locals check this, but I'm really wanting to get inside a ALH wagon.
It's crazy to me they are the same price as a similar 2009+ TDI wagon.

I'm still doing research, but I'm a single dad of 2 going from a crew cab pickup and I don't want to lose all the utility by going to a econobox with no room. (main competitor right now is a cruze eco)

Anywho, do you guys have any meets or any get togethers? I'd like to get your opinions and maybe even get into one of these cars.

There have been a couple rather tired ones on craigslist lately for around $2500
missed out on an automatic a couple months back that was listed at 1k with tranny troubles.

you'll find one priced reasonable at some point
the CR motors have proven themselves to be solid performers as well, so if people are asking stupid money for the ALH cars, no reason not to go with the CR instead.

Fuel Economy: Other than the JSW, hard as I try, can't seem tio get below 40 MPH!

I can't see spending the going price for a good rust free (visible rust at least) A4 when VW has a few hundred thousand A6s they'll be dumping on the market. I love my A4, but I've had an A6 JSW and it was an improvement on the A4 in almost every way. With the extended warranty VW has to throw in with the emissions fix, A6s are a great value!

You're welcome to try out my '02 Wagon, I should warn you, the back seat is a little tight. I just drove out to Colorado with 2 14 year olds. They survived but I could feel their legs with my seat pulled up a bit.